Machine for forming butter pats.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

E. 0. SUTTON.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUTTER PATS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1902.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

Z T Y No. 737,792. "PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

I E.O.SUTTON.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUTTER BATS.

APPLICATION FILED APR, 30, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 7 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented September 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUTTER PATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,792, dated September 1, 1903.

Application filed April 80, 1902. Serial No. 105,289- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR O. SUTTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Butter Pats, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to machines for molding and cutting butter or like substances, and is more especially designed for use in forming the so-ealled butter pats or cakes for individual use at the table.

It is the special object of the present invention to obtain a construction in which a suffieient quantity of butter for forming a large number of pats is held in the machine ready for immediate use and in which it is kept cool, so that it will not soften.

It is a further object to provide means for quickly recharging the machine and to obtain a construction in which all the parts coming in contact with the butter can be easily cleansed.

IVith these objects in view the invention consists in the peculiar construction of a machine provided with a single cutter and feedplunger adapted to cooperate with a plurality of butter-tubes, so that as soon as the butter in one tube is exhausted a second one may be quickly adjusted to the cutter.

The invention further consists in the specific means employed f or eifeetin g this adj ustment; further, in the construction of a cutter which is adapted to carry the plate upon which the out cake is deposited, and, further, in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line a: as, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows a portion of Fig. Elwith the parts in dilferent position. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a portion of the feed mechanism. Fig. (3 is a vertical section in the plane of the horizontal shaft.

A is a casing, preferably of cylindrical form and vertically arranged. This casing is mounted upon a suitable standard, such as the legs B, which raise the lower end of the cylinder a slight distance above the table or support. Within this cylinder is formed a central chamber O for containing ice or other cooling agent, and surrounding this chamber is a series of open-ended vertically-arranged tubes D, forming magazines for storing the butter. Each of these tubes is adapted to receive a dc tachable butter-tube E. These tubes E are of sufficient length to pass completely through the tubes D and at their upper ends are provided with flanges or collars a for resting upon the top of the cylinder or casing.

F is a plunger adapted to fit within the tube E, and G is a rack-bar forming an operatingshank for the plunger. This rack is adapted to be operated by a pinion H, which is secured to a horizontal shaft I, journaled in bearings J above the upper end of the casing. In order that the plunger F may be brought into registration with any one of the series of tubes E, the pinion H, shaft I, and bearingsJ therefor must be adjustable in relation to the cylinder containing said tubes. To accomplish this a stationary frame is preferably provided for supporting said bearings J, said frame also forming a support in which the cylindrical casing A is rotatively mounted, thereby permitting of revolving the cylinder to bring any one of the tubes Einto registration with the plunger. As shown, this frame comprises a base-ring K, directly supported upon the legs B, and a second ring L, arranged above the ring K and rigidly connected thereto by vertical rods or standards M, rising from each of the legs B. These rods engage with ears 1), formed on the ring L, and two of the rods extend upward above said ears to form a securing means for the frame N, on which the bearingsJ are formed. The cylindrical casing A is supported upon a stationary frame, preferably by forming annular flanges 0 upon the heads 0, forming the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, and these flanges c are adapted to bear upon the rings K and L. To rotate the cylinder a handle-lever P is centrally pivoted at the lower end thereof and is provided with a pawl cl, adapted to engage with notches c in the lower head of the cylinder. The movement of this handle is limited, so that in each reciprocation it will turn the cylinder the exact distance necessary to bring another tube in registration with the plunger F.

Q isa cutter. This preferably comprises a wire f, stretched across the frame g and adapted to be reciprocated across the lower end of that tube E which is in registration with the plunger F. The frame 9 is secured to the vertical shaft h, which preferably passes centrally upward through one of the standards M. At the upper end of this shaft is a bevel gear-wheel 2', adapted to engage with a corre sponding bevel-gearj upon the sleeve or collar it, loose upon the shaft I.

R is a lever connected to the sleeve 7c and normally extending downward adjacent to the cylinder A. This lever is provided with a suitable handle, such as 1), for operating the same and at its upper end has pivotally secured thereto a pawl m. 0 is a ratchet-wheel secured to the shaft I and arranged to engage with the pawl m. Thus whenever the lever B is rocked its movement will be transmitted through the bevel gear-wheels and 2' to the vertical shaft h and the latter will cause the swinging of the frame g, so as to carry the wire f across the lower end of the tube E. At the same time the movement f the lever B will cause the pawl m to turn t e ratchetwheel 0, thereby partially rotating the shaft I and causing the pinion H to feed the rack G downward. I

From the description above given it will be understood that each time the lever B is reciprocated the plunger F will feed a column of butter in the tube E downward, so as to project a portion below the lower edge of said tube, and in the further movement of said lever the cutter Q will sever the projecting portion'of the butter column. In order that a perpendicular cut may be made through the column, it is necessary to arrest the feed movement before the cutter operates. This is accomplished by connecting the rock-arm p to the pawl m and arranging a cam q in the path of this rock-arm. Thus in the movement of the lever B after the ratchet-wheel 0 has been turned for a certain distance the cam (1 will rock the arm 19 and cause the disengagement of the pawl m from said ratchet-wheel, this disengagement taking place before the wire f of the cutterhas come in contact with the butter column. The result will be that during the cut the movement of the column will be arrested, thereby severing the cake at right angles to the axis of the column. The cam q may also be used for gaging the thickness of cake, and to this end it is adjustably secured to the frame N. As shown, this adjustment is made by securing the cam q to a segmental plate r, which is provided with a slot through which a securing-screw .9 passes. Thus by loosening the screw 3 and shifting the plate 0'' the position of the cam relative to the rock-arm p is changed, and the amount of feed before disengagement of the pawl m is thereby increased or diminished. The feed verses.

may also be adjusted by substituting a ratchet-wheel of different size.

. The rack G is guided in .its movement by passing through a suitable guide-bearing formed in the frame N, and to permit of engaging or disengaging the rack from this bearing a pivotal latch u is formed upon one side thereof.

0 is a'dog pivotally secured to the frame N and engaging with a ratchet-wheel w and the shaft I. This dog acts as a holdback, which prevents the plunger F from being forced upward by the elasticity of the butter after the disengagement of the pawl m from the ratchet-Wheel 0. At the upper end of the rack-bar G is a portion 50, in which the teeth are cut away, this being so arranged that when the plunger has reached the lower end of the tube E'the pinion H will pass out of engagement with the rack-teeth. The object of this construction is to prevent danger of breaking the parts by the movement of the lever B after the plunger has reached the lower end of the tube by forcing it down still farther and into the path of the cutter. To retract after it has completedits feed the dog 1) is turned back out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel w, and the shaft I is then turned in the reverse direction to raise the rack and disengage the plunger from the tube. To facilitate this reverse movement of the plunger a crank-handle S is secured to the end of the rock-shaft I. It is necessary, however, before the rack may be raised to again engage the teeth thereof with the pinion H, from which they-have passed out of mesh. This is preferably accomplished by providing a camlever T at the upper end of the rack-bar G, said lever being adapted to bear upon the upper end of the frame N. The rocking of this lever T will thus slightly lift the rackbar G, so as to bring the first tooth below the cut-away portion into engagement with the pinion II. As soon as this is accomplished the rotation of the crank-handle S will feed the rack upward until the plunger is free from the tube E.

To receive the cut cake or pat of butter, I preferably arrange a holder, which is carried by the frame g and is adapted to receive the plate upon which the butter may be depos ited. As shown in Fig. 1, this holder comprises a series of cross-bars 1 upon the frame g, upon which either a small butter-plate or a larger bread-and-butter plate may be placed and in the movement of the cutter be carried beneath the butter column. In the return movement of the lever R the holder y will again be swung outward, so as to remove the plate from beneath the casing.

The parts being constructed as described,

the complete operation of the device is as follows: The tubes E are first charged by inserting them in a tub of butter in the manner before described. They are then placed in the tubes D of thecasing and the compartment 0 of the latter is filled with ice or other cooling agent. To facilitate this adetachable 1 hearing at its upper end for resting upon said ice-holder IV is preferably provided, which may be lifted out from the casin g to be charged and then placed within the chamber 0. The plunger F is then inserted in the tube in registration therewith, after which the device is in condition for operation. Butter cakes may then be cut whenever needed by placing the plate upon the holder y and lifting the lever R from its normal position. This will cause the swinging of the arm g and the feeding of the butter column, as before described, after which the return movement of the handle R will again swing out the plate into a position where it may be readily removed from the holder. As soon as one of the tubes E is exhausted the dog u is thrown out of engage ment,the crank-han dlc S turned to remove the plunger, an d the handle P is then reciprocated to rotate the casing sufficiently to bring another tube into registration with the plunger.

The operation may then be repeated and continued as long as any of the tubes E remain charged. When the entire supply is exhausted, the empty tubes E may be removed and other charged tubes may be put in their places, or, if desired, the tubes may be removed and replaced as soon as disengaged from the plunger.

To prevent the falling of dust or dirt into the butter-tubes, the detachable cap V is preferably placed above the upper end of the casing, which will cover all of the tubes excepting the one in which the plunger is inserted.

lVhat I claim as my invention is- 1. A machine for making butter pats comprising a casing constituting a coolingchamher and having a series of tubes extending vertically therethrough, detachable butterholding tubes adapted to be inserted in each of said casing-tubes, a feed-plunger for forcing the butter column downward in its holding-tube, a cutter for severing the portion of the butter column projecting from the lower end of said holding-tube, a common mechanism for actuating said feed-plunger and cutter and means for bringing said feed-plunger and cutter successively in operative relation to the tubes in said series.

2. In a machine for making butter pats, the combinationwith a casing constituting a cooling-chamber and having an aperture extending vertically therethrough, of a cutter arranged to be reciprocated across the aperture in the lower end of said casing, a plunger, mechanism for feeding said plunger downward through the aperture in said casin g, and a detachable butter-holding tube adapt-ed to pass completely through said apertured casing and to receive said plunger, said tube be ing adapted at its lower end for insertion into a mass of butter to fill the tube, and having a casing whereby it is supported in position.

In a machine for making butter pats, the combination with a cutter, a feed-plunger, a frame for supporting said plunger and cutter and a common actuating mechanism therefor, of a revoluble easing containing a series of butter-holding tubes, adapted to be successively brought into operative relation to said plunger and cutter.

4. In a machine for forming butter pats, the combination with a vertically-arranged butter-holding tube, and means for periodically feeding the butter downward therein, of a cutter adapted to swing horizontally beneath said tube carrying a holder for the plate 011 which the severed pat is dropped.

5. In a machine for forming butter pats, the combination with the butter-holding tube, of a feed-plunger, a pinion, a rack-shank for said plunger, engaging said pinion and having the teeth terminating to pass out of mesh with said pinion when said plunger has reached the limit of its movement, means for intermittently rotating said pinion .to feed said rack and plunger, a Winding-crank connected with said pinion for returning said rack, and a lever for imparting the initial return movement to said rack to engage the same with said pinion.

6. In a machine for forming butter pats, the combination with a vertically-arranged butter-holding tube, a frame in which said tube is placed, a cutter arranged to swing across the lower end of said tube, a shaft upon which said cutter is mounted extending vertically to the upper end of said frame, a horizontal shaft at the upper end of said frame, a pinion thereon, a rack engaging said pinion carrying a plunger for engaging said tube, a lever sleeved upon said horizontal shaft having a bevel-gear connection with said vertical shaft, a toothed wheel 011 said horizontal shaft, a pawl on said lever for engaging said toothed wheel to feed the plunger in said tube, and a cam for throwing said pawl out of engagement with said toothed wheel before said outter begins its out.

'7. In a machine for making butter pats, the combination of a casing constituting a cooling-chamber, a series of open-ended buttertubes passing therethrough, a cutter and cooperating feed-plunger, and means for bringing said tubes successively into operative relation to said cutter and feed-plunger.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR O. SUTTON.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, H. 0. SMITH.

IIO 

